Lightning Strikes Lead to Small Fires North of San Francisco

June 12, 2013

A storm moving across Northern and Central California has brought hundreds of lightning strikes, leading to nearly two dozen wildfires.

The National Weather Service counted nearly 500 lightning strikes north of San Francisco Monday.

State fire officials say the lightning had firefighters racing to stop the spread of about 20 wildfires, the majority in Sonoma County.

Most of the fires were quickly contained. The biggest burned about two acres in Colusa County.

Windsor fire Battalion Dhief Mike Elson tells the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat he saw lightning strike four times within 100 yards of his station, twice hitting radio antennas and twice hitting power poles.

Lightning also hit a Healdsburg home and a tree at Sea Ranch Golf Links on Pacific Coast Highway.

There were no reports of major damage.